Hardywood Park Craft Brewery The Great Return
What the brewers say
“Bold, resinous, and bursting with bright grapefruit aroma, this IPA is a tribute to the decades of hard work by conservationists to restore the James River.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Although I can’t pinpoint it, reminds me of eating chicken wings— perhaps it’s the spices in my blue cheese or ranch dressing? As it warms, high spicy, thyme-like notes. Curious tropical notes of guava, dulce de leche, banana, and plums. Coconut and vanilla.”
Flavor: “Moderate bitterness with a bit of spicy notes supported by a bit of biscuity malt. A slight hint of fall spices—annatto seed, bitter orange, toffee, and a long, long bitterness. Substantial malt structure supports the hops character well.”
Overall: “An enjoyable, well-put-together IPA. Lower bitterness but significant flavor hops profile. A moderately heavy beer on the tongue with low carbonation. I would pair this beer with something spicy and see if I can bring out more of the spices. With its pronounced annatto seed and bitter orange avors, this is the perfect pairing for Yucatecan cochinita pibil.”
